Diffuser



April 7, 1953 R. c. BRiERLY DIFFUSER Filed Jan. 24. 1947 INVENTOR.

RALPH C. BRIERLY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIFFUSER, Ralph C. Brierly, Narberth, Pa. Application January 24, 1947, Serial No. 724,219

9Claims. (Cl.158--76) (Granted under Title 35, U. s. Code (1952),

This invention relates to improvements in diffusers and more particularly to improvements in air diffusers adapted to augment high-speed combustion in fuel burners.

The optimum form of diffuser employed in the past comprises a relatively flat cone or disc stamped in the form of radiating, petal-like blades or spokes held together at the peripheral edge by a circular band, said band being either stamped and affixed to, or cast integral with, the diffuser. The disadvantages of these forms of diffusers are markedly apparent at high firing rates, when high air pressures and differentials through the registers are being sustained. In such cases, air exiting between the petal-like blades of the diffusers at high velocity tends to blow the flames of combustible away from the furnace face of the diffusers and to extinguish them or tear them apart so violently that some of the combustible is chilled, thereby retarding combustion speed.

sec. 265) The primary object of the invention is to provide a diffuser adapted to permit the heat release'per unit area of air control register throat to be increased above the level practicable with diffusers employed presently.

' Another object is to provide a diffuser adapted to augment greatly the degree of intermixture of air and oil at the face of the diffuser so that the flame clings to the furnace side of the diffuser despite hitherto inordinate air velocities.

. A further object is to provide a diffuser adapted to disseminate air streams in such a manner that the tendency of the flames to blow away and chill is reduced.

' Another object is to provide a diffuser adapted to intermix air and fuel rapidly.

" Still another object is to provide a diffuser wherewith the flames tend to adhere to the furnace faces of the diffuser, thereby permitting combustion to be completed in shorter furnace lengths.

A further object is to provide a diffuser where- .with flame equilibrium is obtained proximate the furnace face of the diffuser.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a diffuser, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section thereof taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another modified form thereof;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of another form thereof; and

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of another modified form thereof.

The diffuser ll comprises a frusto-conoidal member [3, preferably shallow, mounted on the end of a conduit I5, which is adapted to carry combustible fluid to an atomizer (not shown) seated in the register distance piece conduit portion ll.

A plurality of spaced and radially disposed cowls or segments H] are provided in the furnace face of the diffuser. Said segments are preferably pyramidal, comprising a plurality of polygonal portions 2|, 23 and 25 meeting at an apex spaced from the furnace face of the diffuser.

Selected polygonal portions, such as portions 2| and 23, are adapted to diffuse and guide the air passing through the diffuser and other selected portions, such as portion 25, consist of one or more layers of screen that is resistant to high temperatures. "j I It is apparent that the novel pyramidal construction of the segments l9 permits opening said segments to a greater extent than has been practicable with the ports of diffusers hitherto employed- It is further apparent that the employment of a layer or layers of screen that is resistant to high temperatures subdivides the air stream at each segment into a multiplicity of air streams, thereby increasing combustion efficiency.

, As shown in Fig. 3, an alternative construction adapted to accomplish the same objects provides selected polygonal portions 21 consisting of closely perforated plate, employed in lieu of the layer or layers of screen above described.

As shown in Fig. 4, another alternative construction adapted to accomplish the same objects provides a diffuser constructed in the following manner: A plurality of spaced spokes 29 radiate from the conduit portion I! of a register distance piece, said spokes defining either a plane or frusto-conoidal figure. A plurality of spaced spokes 3| define either a plane or a frusto-conoidal figure other than the plane or frusto-conoidal figure defined by the spokes 29. A screen 33 that is resistant to high temperatures is corrugated between the spokes 29 and 3|.

While the screen 33 can be of uniform mesh, it is preferable to graduate said mesh, increasing the size thereof from the hub to the periphery of the diffuser as shown in Fig. 4.

It is apparent that a perforated plate can be employed in lieu of the screen 33.

Still another alternative is shown in Fig. 5, wherein a plurality of annular bands or cylinders 35 of graduated diameter are each provided with a face layer or layers of screen 31, so that air impelled through the conduit 39 is subdivided into a multiplicity of streams by the screen. N

It is apparent that a perforated plate can be employed in lieu of the screen 31.

Another alternative is shown in Big. 6. A plurality of nesting groups of cylinders 4|, each composed of a plurality of tubes 43, are arranged so that each cylinder of tubes is of a diameter that progressively approaches or recedes from the diameter of the conduit I! portion.

It is apparent that screen or a plurality of per= forated plates can be employed in conjunction with the diffuser show iri Fig. 6.

Various modifications and changes can be made in the subject device without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufacture'd and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim: v

1. A diffuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced ports provided with polyhedral cowls, selected faces of said cowls being provided with :means to subdivide air passing therethrough into a multiplicity cremains. d 2. A diffuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced ports pro vided with polyhedral cowls, selected faces of said cowls being composed of screen resistant to high temperatures.

3. A difiuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a cenaua, said member having a plurality of spaced sectorshaped ports provided with pyramidal cowls, selected similarly disposed faces of each of said bowls being provided with means to subdivide air passing thereth'rough into a multiplicity of streams d 4. A diffuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced sectorshaped ports provided with pyramidal cowls, selected similarly disposed faces ofeach of said cowls being composed of screen resistant to high temperatures.

5. A difiuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced sectorshaped ports provided with pyramidal cowls, selectedsimilarly disposed faces of each of said cowls being composed of perforated plate.

6. A diffuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced ports provided with cowls, portions of said cowls being provided with means to subdivide air passing therethrough into a multiplicity of streams.

7. A diffuser comprising a frusto-conoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced ports provided with cowls, portions of said cowls being provided with perforated plate members adapted to subdivide air passing therethrough into a multiplicity of streams.

8. A diffuser comprising a generally frustocohoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced ports provided with cowls, portions of said cowls being provided with means to subdivide air passi'r'ig therethro'ugh into a multiplicity of streams.

9. A diffuser comprising a generally frustocbnoidal member adapted to be mounted on a conduit, said member having a plurality of spaced ports provided with cowls, portions of said cowls being provided with perforated plate members adapted to subdivide air passing therethrough into a multiplicity of streams.

RALPH C. BRIERLY.

REFERENCES CITED ih following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Apr. 10, 1,789,772 Phelan Jan. 20, 1931 7, 1,995,861 Muraki Mar. 26, 1935 2,072,731 Crosby 1 Mar. 2, 1937 2,105,546 McDonald 1 Jan. 18, 1938 23136 777 Andrews .1. NOV. 1 1938 2,334,314 Campbell Nov. 16, 1943 2,340,389 Jan0sky Feb. 1, 1944 2,380,463 Poole July 31, 1945 2,411,048 Logan 11 Nov. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 312,996 Germany June 28, 1919 386,159 Germany Dec. 4, 1923 168,969 Switzerland July 16, 1934 

